Bindra lone supporter for Modi in GC meeting

Punjab Cricket Association President I S Bindra was the lone member to support the embattled Lalit Modi when the governing council met on Monday.

Written by Press Trust of India

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Mumbai:

Punjab Cricket Association President I S Bindra was the lone member to support the embattled Lalit Modi when the governing council met on Monday to decide the future course of action in the wake of the raging IPL controversy.

Bindra said that Modi should have been given time to explain his stand before being suspended and issued a show cause notice which he has to respond within 15 days.

Barring Bindra, none of the council members spoke in Modi's favour during the 90-minute meeting and all of them endorsed BCCI President Shashank Manohar's decision to suspend him, a top BCCI source said.

Treasurer M P Pandove and Union Minister Farooq Abdullah did not attend the meeting. While Pandove is not keeping well, Abdullah skipped the meet as he had to attend the Parliament session.

Manohar briefed the council members about the entire issue, particularly the charges that have been levelled against Modi. He highlighted the serious financial irregularities in the bid documents and various other deals such as the television and internet.

When the issue of who should succeed Modi came up, members recommended Manohar himself should take up the post of IPL chairman and clean up the mess.

Manohar, on his part, suggested that Chirayu Amin, the president of Baroda Cricket Association and one of the BCCI vice-presidents, should be the chairman.

"Manohar explained that Amin would be a better candidate because he has the background of an industrialist and his experience in marketing would stand in good stead when the league becomes even bigger in the subsequent editions," the source said.

The council members were unanimous in their views that the brand and image of IPL have to be restored and only way to do that was to be more transparent in handling all the dealings.

Manohar also wanted the three cricketers in the panel --Sunil Gavaskar, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and Ravi Shastri -- to play a bigger role in running the IPL. The trio have now been entrusted with the job of working out the modalities for IPL 4 which will have 10 teams with the addition of Kochi and Pune franchises.

Patuadi raised the issue of 'facilitation fee' in the broadcasting deal between World Sports Group and Multi Screen Media (MSM) and who were the actual beneficiaries of the alleged kickbacks.